modifications and warranty

[tuffluck]

my 2007 530i has the factory warranty through the end of 2010, then the 2-year cpo warranty through 2012. i am wondering what types of modifications i can do to my car that would be a worthwhile investment but also wouldn't void the warranty. such as an air induction--would that void the warranty? i just don't know the rules. i have never owned a car with a warranty before!

i've heard about this software upgrade thing...does it hurt the engine? i just don't know what it does and how much power it adds, or if IT voids the warranty. any help is appreciated.

really the software thing and the air induction were the only easy mods i am aware of right now. please feel free to tell me about others. any ideas on what sort of gains i would see with either/both? my car has 255hp. 300hp sure would be nice to get to!

[Jhunter]

No modification is a worthwhile investment. Generally, if a modification affects a system or part that breaks you risk your warranty. If the mod has nothing to do with what breaks, you shouldn't have a problem.

[E36BMW3series]

More than likely it will void your warranty. Why you may ask? Because BMW can.

If you want mods that won't void your warranty the stealership will do that for you! Dinan modifications keep the factory warranty. They are expensive, but if a warranty is worth it to you, then it may be worth it.

[tuffluck]

i have read the an air intake isn't going to void the warranty...does anyone else have any input on this? what about an exhaust...and how much hp would that actually add to my car?

is there any info at all out there on the software upgrade i've heard others mention on this board?

doesn't seem to be a lot of insight on the modification of the e60.

[AshamedGorilla]

I'm fairly certain a software modification will void the warranty.

If you want some good looks New wheels won't void the warranty. But it sounds like you want performance.

[tuffluck]

yeah just curious. things like an air intake, even exhaust, seem like no brainer modifications for performance. shouldn't come stock with air baffles, so it baffles me that it could void a warranty.

[Kevlar]

Any modification voids the warranty on the part being modified and any part affected by that part.

Example... an aftermarket exhaust is not going to affect your windshield wipers, on the other hand, an aftermarket air intake can void the air mass meter, the intake plenum, the engine, the catalytic converters or the stock exhaust.

[JackEatsEmoKids]

More than likely it will void your warranty. Why you may ask? Because BMW can.

If you want mods that won't void your warranty the stealership will do that for you! Dinan modifications keep the factory warranty. They are expensive, but if a warranty is worth it to you, then it may be worth it.

BMW no longer veiws Dinan as a partner. Dinan offers their warranty if your part fails due to a their product, but not directly through BMW.


And no, your warranty cannot be voided unless the modifications directly affected your problem.

[Brashland]

And no, your warranty cannot be voided unless the modifications directly affected your problem.

They can certainly try and likely will give you a ton of garbage about it, and then they can possibly say "We BELIEVE the modification you made contributed to the problem so denied."

[bowmang]

They can certainly try and likely will give you a ton of garbage about it, and then they can possibly say "We BELIEVE the modification you made contributed to the problem so denied."

have you ever dealt with BMW warranty?

they're usually VERY reasonable... and sometimes even pay for things out of warranty as goodwill.

[RabidChimp]

they're usually VERY reasonable... and sometimes even pay for things out of warranty as goodwill.

This is true. I have seen BMW pay for steering wheels, two thousand dollar navigation units, TCUs, even transmission control units.

[hpye36e30m3]

It really comes down to the relationship between you and the dealer. If you have bought, serviced or dealt with the dealer before they are more likely to help you out than if they never seen you before or if your going from dealer to dealer trying to get "free" stuff. As far as modifications go, BMW knows that people drive these cars hard. I have replaced clutches on full out track cars under "goodwill." All goodwill means is that we are fixing that problem for free. . . this time. Next time its on you. Here is a link to the real CPO. . . Not what the salesman told you.

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/CPO/Warranty/default.aspx?enc=/eiUrYOZAxtXbrazY6tfkoEZVBp+fK9rbB+LyvFZ2xl1G2UzDa9 xYWduqfAZzRpjtIgrFeo21oOAEBJR5CUu3loInDjvJbITyQarG 0tSG+vE48p2mfP0/DFADt1zG5sS

[bowmang]

It really comes down to the relationship between you and the dealer. If you have bought, serviced or dealt with the dealer before they are more likely to help you out than if they never seen you before or if your going from dealer to dealer trying to get "free" stuff. As far as modifications go, BMW knows that people drive these cars hard. I have replaced clutches on full out track cars under "goodwill." All goodwill means is that we are fixing that problem for free. . . this time. Next time its on you. Here is a link to the real CPO. . . Not what the salesman told you.

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/CPO/Warranty/default.aspx?enc=/eiUrYOZAxtXbrazY6tfkoEZVBp+fK9rbB+LyvFZ2xl1G2UzDa9 xYWduqfAZzRpjtIgrFeo21oOAEBJR5CUu3loInDjvJbITyQarG 0tSG+vE48p2mfP0/DFADt1zG5sS


this is pretty spot on....

[tuffluck]

It really comes down to the relationship between you and the dealer. If you have bought, serviced or dealt with the dealer before they are more likely to help you out than if they never seen you before or if your going from dealer to dealer trying to get "free" stuff. As far as modifications go, BMW knows that people drive these cars hard. I have replaced clutches on full out track cars under "goodwill." All goodwill means is that we are fixing that problem for free. . . this time. Next time its on you. Here is a link to the real CPO. . . Not what the salesman told you.

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Content/CPO/Warranty/default.aspx?enc=/eiUrYOZAxtXbrazY6tfkoEZVBp+fK9rbB+LyvFZ2xl1G2UzDa9 xYWduqfAZzRpjtIgrFeo21oOAEBJR5CUu3loInDjvJbITyQarG 0tSG+vE48p2mfP0/DFADt1zG5sS

thanks. the only thing i don't get is that electrical is covered under warranty, but radio/cd and navigation are not? how exactly does that catch 22 work?

[TEPPSU]

thanks. the only thing i don't get is that electrical is covered under warranty, but radio/cd and navigation are not? how exactly does that catch 22 work?

There are more electrical components in the car than just Radio/navi.

[Brashland]

have you ever dealt with BMW warranty?

they're usually VERY reasonable... and sometimes even pay for things out of warranty as goodwill.

Unfortunately yes, and it was to cover my CPO car just before it went out of warranty. Because it was a CPO demo car as well (demo vehicle bought by 1st owner then bought by me) it had a bit more time added to the warranty (not sure how it worked, but it was a selling point they brough up at purchase). The claims rep kept saying 'no that's not covered under the warranty, not that... no not that either, no it's considered acceptable that your 6 year old windshield cowl should be brittle and cracking, etc...' After EVERTHING I brought up was denied I asked for the name and contact number for the Regional Customer Service Rep.

Sure enough about 2 hours later they called back and said "OH, you DO have an extended warranty on your CPO. OK, we will cover 2/3 of those items you mentioned."

[bowmang]

Unfortunately yes, and it was to cover my CPO car just before it went out of warranty. Because it was a CPO demo car as well (demo vehicle bought by 1st owner then bought by me) it had a bit more time added to the warranty (not sure how it worked, but it was a selling point they brough up at purchase). The claims rep kept saying 'no that's not covered under the warranty, not that... no not that either, no it's considered acceptable that your 6 year old windshield cowl should be brittle and cracking, etc...' After EVERTHING I brought up was denied I asked for the name and contact number for the Regional Customer Service Rep.

Sure enough about 2 hours later they called back and said "OH, you DO have an extended warranty on your CPO. OK, we will cover 2/3 of those items you mentioned."

glad to hear they took care of you :buttrock

[tuffluck]

There are more electrical components in the car than just Radio/navi.

yeah but isn't a contradition to list "electrical" as a covered item but then list "radio, nav" as noncovered items? they are still electrical...shouldn't it say "electrical EXCEPT radio and nav."

why aren't these things covered under the CPO warranty? so if your radio or nav stops completely, you're screwed? i think i specifically remember understanding that idrive controls everything, so it doesn't make sense they will fix some things that screw up under idrive but not others.

anyone have any experience/clarification on this?

[TEPPSU]

yeah but isn't a contradition to list "electrical" as a covered item but then list "radio, nav" as noncovered items? they are still electrical...shouldn't it say "electrical EXCEPT radio and nav."

why aren't these things covered under the CPO warranty? so if your radio or nav stops completely, you're screwed? i think i specifically remember understanding that idrive controls everything, so it doesn't make sense they will fix some things that screw up under idrive but not others.

anyone have any experience/clarification on this?

The CPO warranty was designed a long time ago before BMW components were so integrated. If you were to buy an extended warranty from BMW you can buy one that covers the iDrive these days. The iDrive does not control drivability of the car. It is more an extertainment/extra featur system.

If I were you I would not strain to hard thinking about the "why" and just live with it.

[Brashland]

glad to hear they took care of you :buttrock

But it shouldn't have been the hassle it was. I WAS under warranty, I explained to them I still had some warranty time left, and it wasn't until I threatened to take it to a regional level that they did anything.

[BEEMDUB]

make ones that the dealer wont notice easily

Make some that the dealer wont notice easily